Neck and Chest Warmer

Abstract

A convertible garment for providing warmth to a neck and/or chest of a person includes an elongated neck piece having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and an inner surface and outer surface opposite the inner surface, wherein the neck piece is adapted to wrap around the neck. At least one neck fastener is provided for releasably securing the first end to the second end, the neck fastener having a first fastener disposed proximate to the first end on the inner surface and a second fastener disposed proximate to the second end on the outer surface. The garment further includes a chest piece adapted to releasably attach to the neck piece and cover the chest, wherein the neck piece forms a tubular configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment for providing warmth to a neck and/or chest of a person, comprising:
 an elongated neck piece having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, and an inner surface and outer surface opposite said inner surface, said neck piece being adapted to wrap around the neck;   at least one neck fastener for releasably securing the first end to the second end, said neck fastener having a first fastener disposed proximate to the first end on the inner surface and a second fastener disposed proximate to the second end on the outer surface; and   a chest piece adapted to releasably attach to the neck piece and cover the chest;   wherein the neck piece forms a tubular configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said neck piece is adjustable in length to match a circumference of the neck. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second ends at least partially overlap with each other, wherein said overlap covers the neck fasteners. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said neck fasteners comprise hook and loop closures. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the neck piece has an arcuate shape that automatically conforms to the neck. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 5 , wherein the neck piece is V-shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 5 , wherein the chest piece has a top edge, said top edge having a curvature that matches the arcuate shape of the neck piece. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising at least one chest fastener for releasably attaching said chest piece to said neck piece, said chest fastener having a first fastening component disposed on an outer surface of the chest piece and a second fastening component disposed on the inner surface of the neck piece proximate to a lower edge of the neck piece, wherein said neck piece covers the chest piece partially. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one chest fastener is adapted to unfasten when a pulling force is applied to the chest piece, said pulling force being greater than gravitational force. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one chest fastener comprises interlocking snap buttons. 
     
     
         11 . A garment for providing warmth to a neck and/or chest of a person, comprising:
 a reversible chest piece, said chest piece having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, wherein either of said first and second surfaces can be adapted to contact the chest while the other of said first and second surfaces defines an exposed surface;   at least one apparel chosen from a group consisting of a strap and a neck piece, said apparel being adapted to wrap around the neck; and   a chest fastener releasably attaching said chest piece to said apparel;   wherein said apparel is adjustable in length to position the chest piece relative to the chest.   
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein the chest fastener is adapted to unfasten when a pulling force is applied to the chest piece, said pulling force being greater than gravitational force. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein said apparel has an arcuate shape that automatically conforms to the neck. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein the chest fastener comprises at least two fastening components disposed on the first surface of the chest piece proximate to a top edge of said chest piece, said fastening components adapted to engage separately at least two complimentary fastening components disposed on the strap and at least two complimentary fastening components disposed on the neck piece. 
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 14 , wherein said strap comprises an elongated piece of fabric having opposing strap ends, said complimentary fastening components of said strap being positioned at said strap ends, wherein said strap with said chest piece attached thereto is adapted to remain stationary around said neck. 
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 15 , wherein with said strap attached to said chest piece, either of said first and second surfaces of said chest piece defines the exposed surface. 
     
     
         17 . The garment of  claim 14 , wherein said neck piece comprises:
 an elongated piece of fabric having opposing neck piece ends; and   an inner surface and an outer surface opposite said inner surface, said inner surface adapted to contact said neck;   wherein said complimentary fastening components of said neck piece are disposed on said inner surface proximate to a center between said neck piece ends.   
     
     
         18 . The garment of  claim 17 , wherein the chest fastener comprises three fastening components disposed on said first surface proximate to the top edge of said chest piece, one fastening component being positioned at a center between opposing vertical edges of said chest piece, and two fastening components each being positioned proximate to one of said opposing vertical edges; and
 wherein said three fastening components are adapted to engage three complimentary fastening components disposed on said inner surface of said neck piece, one complimentary fastening component being positioned at the center between said neck piece ends and two complimentary fastening components being positioned on opposite sides of the one complimentary fastening component.   
     
     
         19 . The garment of  claim 17 , wherein said neck piece comprises at least one neck fastener for releasably securing the neck piece ends to each other, said neck piece being adapted to cover the neck entirely. 
     
     
         20 . A garment for providing warmth to a neck and/or chest of a person, comprising:
 an adjustable strap adapted to wrap around the neck, said strap having opposing strap ends, said opposing strap ends being releasably attached to each other;   a neck piece for wrapping around the neck, said neck piece having opposing neck piece ends adapted to releasably attach to each other, said neck piece being releasably attached to the strap; and   a chest piece for covering the chest, said chest piece being releasably attached to the strap;   wherein the neck piece and strap form a continuous tubular configuration around the neck.